A journey to search my soul

This is a blog of my personal collections. The purpose of this blog is to educate myself and public in regards to antiquities especially related to religion and calligraphy. I welcome everyone to input their feedback in this blog which they think would be helpful. I do not watermark the photos in this blog so everyone is free to use them as long as they are not used for illegal and unethical reasons. I appreciate if you could notify me if you plan to use any of the photos here. Enjoy browsing!!

Monday, December 18, 2017

This is an interesting Ottoman era 3 faces stamp dated 1311 AH ( 1893 CE)
There is a clear date written in Arabic on 1 face. The second one looks like انشاءالله
But I couldn't figure out the third word.

Saturday, December 16, 2017

This is a papyrus fragment written in Classical Greek language in black
ink. Origin
from Egypt and purchased from Antique Store in USA in 2016. I discovered
this fragment among with my other Arabic papyrus fragments. Comparing
this fragment with some papyrus from DUKE Library, they have similar fragments . This is the
link, Greek Papyrus. which dating the fragment from 2nd-3rd Century CE.
I don't have much
information of this kind of manuscript and its writing tradition. I need
to do more research on this manuscript and will update this entry
later. I welcome any feedback on this fragment.

Friday, December 15, 2017

This is a museum piece of a small plate from Qing Dynasty. It is made in China for Persian market.
The plate is decorated with red foliage around the centre alternating with Arabic calligraphy squibbles. In the centre there is a square box consists of 16 cells filled with Arabic numerals. This square is also known as a magic square or Waqf or "Buduh".
This plate most likely produced for talismanic purpose or Taweez. I do not know exactly what the magic square in this plate represent for but it can be for any reasons such as finding love, opening gate of blessing, curing diseases, etc.
This BUDUH tradition is believed in existence prior to Islam most likely originated from China. From a Chinese literature dated circa 650BCE, there was a record of identifying 3x3 grid pattern from a turtle shell hence formulating the mystical means to control the water from the river.
This magic square were known to Islamic scholars as early as 7th century due to the contact with the East. Throughout the time, the magic square has evolved and developed to serve for numerous mystical purposes.The magic square started from grid of 4x4, 6x6 & 7x7 and by 19th Century, 100x100 grid is created.

The arabic numerals in the cells look so ambiquous. The look like number ٥ (5) and ١ ١ (11). The sum on any row or colum will give the same amount which is 32.

The Arabic squibbles around the plate were barely readable however I could see few places with the word الله ( The God Allah), and few phrases I can almost red it as لا اله الا الله ( There is no God except Allah).
Comparing with similar plate displayed in the Islamic Museum Malaysia, those Arabic phrases on the outer rings are verses from Surah II ( The Cow) verse 255-257 followed by testimony of faith and prayers.
There are also 4 distinct Arabic phrases around the magic square. I have to compare it with some plates from the internet to figure out what they are.

لا السيف الا الزالفقر There is no sword except Zulfikar
لا الفتاح الا علي There is no conqueror except Ali

When the name of Ali is mentioned, it became clear that this talisman plate is used by the Shiite, either for export to Iran or for Chinese Muslims.

It is important to note that the use of Talisman ( Taweez) is a mystical science or occult and against the teaching of Islam and the mainstream Islamic scholars.

This is a lithographed Judaism book, in Hebrew
language. I couldn't figure out what is the title of this book. I bought this book in Istanbul.This Torah was used by Jewish
community in Turkey. Covers made of hard board
with the spine is made of leather. This
book is pocket size of 120mm
x100mm.This book is undated but prsumably from 19th century. If anyone has any idea about this book please share with us.

This
is a complete “tree” of coins from Johore Empire Era ( 16th-19th Century).

Johor is located in the
southern tip of Peninsular of Malaysia as well as the most southern
point of the Asian Continent. The name of Johor originated from the
Arabic word Jawhar which means jewel. It is also known by its Arabic
honorific, Darul Takzim ( Abode of Dignity).The
Sultanate of Johor was founded by Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II , the
son of exiled last Sultan of Malacca ( Sultan Mahmud Shah) in 1528 CE.
Johor was part of Malaccan Sultanate prior to Malacca occupation by
Portuguese in 1511 CE.

This is a rare piece as I haven’t seen
such a thing in Malaysian museums yet ( probably I haven’t explored
enough).
Let me provide some insights of this “tree”. During the era
of Johor Sultanate, tin coins or “Katuns” as they were known, were
minted in a variety of shapes and sizes for use in the local markets.
Some of these circular, others hexagonal or octagonal. A few of them
carried full inscriptions indicating that they were intended for Johor,
but the majority were inscribed only with the title such as “ Malik Al
Adil” ( The Just King).

This tree was moulded by pouring molten tin
though an opening in a mould which runs along a central channel into the
side branches and finally into the coin moulds where the katun were
cast. After the metal had cooled and hardened, the katuns were broken
off and the excess metal of the central stem and brances was re smelted
for further use.
Comparing this coins’ tree with my other katuns, I
could match this katun with type C katun, hexagonal and class V as
outlined in Saran Singh’s The Encyclopaedia of The Coins of Malaysia
Singapore & Brunei, page 124 ( SS32a). The obverse has a large central dot surrounded by further dots or circle whereas the
reverse of this katun is blank. It has hexagonal shape with plain edge and typical
weight of 1.09 gm each. Diameter range from 16-17mm. Made of tin and RRRR if with the tree.
The other katun tree from the same empire has an S shape as if a kris whereas this one is straight like a tree. Check my other coin tree atJohor Katun Tree

I attended an intensive workshop last Summer. It was Workshop for Interventive & Preventive Conservation of Textiles, Paper & Metal held in a beautiful island, Zakynthos in Greece from 21 May - 3 June 2017. This workshop was hosted by the Technological Educational Institute of the Ionian Islands ( TEI) under The Balkan Heritage Field School ( Bulgaria).
This is one of the best workshops I ever attended. The lab is fully equipped with all tools you need in conserving and preserving ancient textiles, paper & metal.
The lectures were very useful yet I wish we could have cover more in paper conservation which I have most of my interest in. Nonetheless the hands in with the preservation technique in lab is world class.

The first week, the lecture and workshop were on paper conservation. The lecture and guidance were given by Dr Nikolas Sarris from National Library of Greece. I am blessed to attend his lecture because he is well know for his conservation works especially in Codex Sinaiticus & Ethiopic manuscripts.
The second week, the lecture & workshop were on textile conservation. It was lectured by Dr Christos Karydis who is a Conservator of works of art, Lecturer at the TEI of
Ionian Islands & University of the Aegean
The third week, the lecture & workshop were on metal conservation. The lecture & guidance were given by Dr Adamantia Panagopoulou who is a Conservator
of Antiquities MSc – PhD researcher in archaeological materials in 'NCRS Demokritos' National Research Institute
& Lieden University in the Netherlands.

I have gained a lot of knowledge & practical guidance during this course.
Apart from the amazing course, the venue for this workshop which is Zakynthos Island is a very beautiful indeed. I am mesmerized with the beauty of the island. I am glad that I made it for this course otherwise I would have not seen this beautiful island.
Thanks to DrAngela Pencheva (Balkan Heritage
Foundation & Field School Program Manager) and Dr Christos Karydis (Conservator, TEI of Ionian Islands) for coordinating this amazing workshop.

Monday, June 12, 2017

This is a large brass container used to measure rice. It is called Gantang in Malay language. It measures at 17cm x 18 cm with weight about 3.10kg.

This Gantang originated from the Sultanate of Brunei dated 1322 AH ( 1899 CE). There is an inscription written in Jawi in Malay language,
" Inilah gantang perintah Brunei Al Malik Al Adil tarikh fi sanah 1322" translated, " This is the gantang officially ordered by Brunei The Just Ruler in year 1322 AH)

1 Gantang measured about 4.5 litres (dry).
Similar gantang was mentioned in the book " The message and the Monsoon : Islamic Art of Southeast Asia" on page 205. The Gantang was dated 1239 AH( 1823 CE). Other references about the gantang are in michaelbackmanltd.com page under items 3281 & 1304.

The interesting about the Gantang in my possession is that is has a lid. Most of Gantangs depicted in reference books and some in museums are without the lid.